MOT performance

Land Rover Defender MOT pass rate and common failures

Across 219,897 MOT tests of the Land Rover Defender in 2023–2024, 69.4% passed first time. Allowing for age, mileage and fuel, Land Rover Defenders failed 11% less often than comparable cars. The most common failure item was “position lamp: not working”, on 3.82% of tests.

219,897 MOT tests on 120,225 vehicles, 2023–2024 · Source: DVSA (Open Government Licence) · Analysis: 73 Auto

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At a glance

Land Rover Defender MOT results at a glance
Figure	Value	Basis
First-time pass rate	69.4%	±0.2 pts (95%), n = 219,897
Failures vs similar cars	0.89×	same age, mileage and fuel = 1.00
Tests with a dangerous defect	6.4%	n = 219,897
Average age at test	16.9 years	n = 219,897
Median mileage at test	95,009 miles	n = 219,897
Vehicles tested	120,225	2023–2024

Where Land Rover Defenders fail

The share of MOT tests that failed on each area, and how that compares with cars of the same age, mileage and fuel. Areas where the difference is large and clear link to their own page.

Land Rover Defender MOT failures by area
Area	Tests failed on it	vs similar cars
Lights, reflectors and electrical	16.8%	+5%
Suspension	9.2%	-25%
Brakes	8.3%	-21%
Steering	7.6%	+84%
Body, chassis and structure	7.1%	-13%
Driver's view of the road	6.5%	+5%
Noise, emissions and leaks	2.6%	-21%
Tyres	1.9%	-63%
Seat belts and airbags	1.4%	-36%
Registration plates and VIN	1.0%	+66%
Road wheels	0.1%	-67%
Speedometer and driving controls	0.1%	+48%

Land Rover Defender MOT pass rate by generation

Generations by first-registration date against 73 Auto's catalogue (cars registered within three months of a changeover left out).

Land Rover Defender MOT results by generation
Generation	Tests	Average age	First-time pass	vs similar cars
Classic (1983–2016)	197,233	18.4 yrs	67.1%	-10%
L663 (2020 on)	15,193	2.5 yrs	91.4%	-42%

Most common failure items

Most common Land Rover Defender MOT failure items
Item	Area	Share of tests
Position lamp: not working	Lights, reflectors and electrical	3.82%
Stop lamp: not working	Lights, reflectors and electrical	2.83%
Shock absorbers: has an excessively worn bush	Suspension	2.70%
Rear fog lamp: not working	Lights, reflectors and electrical	2.51%
Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively	Driver's view of the road	2.41%
Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded	Brakes	2.09%
Headlamp aim: too high	Lights, reflectors and electrical	1.94%
Washers: provides insufficient washer liquid	Driver's view of the road	1.74%
Registration plate lamp(s): inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps	Lights, reflectors and electrical	1.74%
Headlamp aim: too low	Lights, reflectors and electrical	1.61%

Most common advisories

Advisories are items the tester expects to need attention soon; they don't fail the test.

Most common Land Rover Defender MOT advisories
Item	Area	Share of tests
Engine oil leaks: leaking excessively from engine	Noise, emissions and leaks	14.96%
Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded	Brakes	12.42%
Wheel bearings: has excessive play	Suspension	6.65%
Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened	Brakes	6.54%
Shock absorbers: has an excessively worn bush	Suspension	6.39%

Pass rate by age

Land Rover Defender MOT pass rate by age at test
Age at test (years)	Tests	First-time pass rate	Failures vs similar cars
3-4	8,630	91.0%	-40%
5-6	721	80.4%	+28%
7-8	16,185	80.1%	+2%
9-10	20,026	74.9%	-2%
11-12	15,616	69.6%	-4%
13-15	21,932	67.5%	-13%
16+	128,259	64.5%	-11%

Pass rate by registration year

Land Rover Defender MOT pass rate by registration year
Registered	Tests	First-time pass rate	Failures vs similar cars
2021	8,752	92.1%	0.53×
2020	8,150	90.4%	0.64×
2016	3,542	83.3%	1.02×
2015	13,163	79.6%	1.00×
2014	11,534	76.3%	0.98×
2013	8,631	72.7%	1.00×
2012	7,622	70.3%	0.99×
2011	7,836	68.8%	0.93×
2010	7,848	68.6%	0.88×
2009	6,884	66.5%	0.90×
2008	7,315	67.9%	0.82×
2007	7,839	66.6%	0.83×
2006	7,418	65.6%	0.83×
2005	8,208	65.3%	0.81×
2004	8,387	65.0%	0.81×
2003	8,677	63.4%	0.84×
2002	7,633	64.0%	0.84×
2001	6,187	63.2%	0.88×
2000	5,904	62.7%	0.92×
1999	6,009	63.5%	0.92×
1998	6,894	65.6%	0.90×
1997	6,711	63.5%	0.95×
1996	6,896	62.8%	0.96×
1995	5,736	63.2%	0.96×
1994	4,626	62.3%	0.98×
1993	3,779	64.2%	0.94×
1992	2,922	63.6%	0.95×
1991	3,400	65.0%	0.92×
1990	3,198	65.6%	0.91×
1989	3,756	64.4%	0.95×
1988	2,903	64.0%	0.96×
1987	3,212	64.4%	0.95×
1986	3,391	66.3%	0.91×
1985	2,595	68.8%	0.85×
1984	1,547	69.7%	0.83×
1983	358	70.4%	0.84×

Years with fewer tests are shown for completeness; only years with enough tests have their own page.

Compared with similar models

Land Rover Defender vs Suzuki Jimny

What a Land Rover Defender costs to own

73 Auto's worked ownership-cost examples for this model:

Land Rover Defender First Edition D Auto 2020

Check a specific Land Rover Defender

Enter a UK registration to see that car's own MOT history and what it is likely to cost to own. Your first check is free and shows the vehicle summary and its headline ownership cost. The category-by-category breakdown is part of a paid check.

UK number plate or 17-character VIN

About this data. These are MOT test results, not a measure of mechanical reliability: a car's MOT outcome reflects its condition on the day, which depends on how it has been maintained and driven as well as how it was built. Figures cover class 4 vehicles (cars and light vans), normal tests only (retests excluded), outcomes pass, fail and pass after rectification at the station; vehicles at least 2.5 years old at test. Tests from 2023-01-01 to 2024-12-30. “Compared with similar cars” means compared with the national rate for cars of the same age, mileage band and fuel. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Makes and models are matched to 73 Auto's vehicle catalogue; tests that can't be matched are left out rather than guessed. See how the MOT figures are produced.